ABSTRACT: The management leadership of the modern principal has been placed under the magnifying glass due to the challenges brought about in schools by transformation. School principals are in need of radical methods of approach to their management styles and focus. Interpretation and implementation of transformation lead to obscurity and far reaching complexity. School principals are expected to provide answers and solutions for transformation while at the same time putting effective and purposeful education in place.
Chapter 1 gives a brief overview of the broader problem of transformation in schools. The approach and results, either direct or indirect, that are linked to the management style of the principal are studied. The management style, approach and changes due to transformation, has principals need to re-invent themselves and their schools to fulfil the needs of transformation, are also studied. It points out that a partial or even complete personal transformation in modern schools of the twenty first century. Attention is given to afforded problematic questions that will be answered by means of the literature study and empirical investigation.
A South African perspective and the influence and consequences of transformation are discussed in the subsequent chapter (chapter 2). Although transformation is emphasized, this chapter reveals that diverse teaching and education have been with us since the time of Jan van Riebeeck, entrenched by various names and approaches. Various philosophical approaches and their applications in the modern era are investigated. Perhaps not as well-known, but with non-negotiable results, is the South African Constitution and Management framework regarding education. Therefore various implications of transformation for diverse education are investigated.
Chapter 3 is dedicated to leadership in management of modern school principals. Attention is given to views as to what leadership is, what is expected of a leader as
well as the complexities of modern leadership. A number of leadership models and dimensions that add to the complexity of leadership in management are studied as leadership can never be the same for all people. These varying styles of leadership can be used separately or in combination for successful management leadership. Transformation has resulted in school principals having to possess certain characteristics. This results in specific and challenging professional demands on the school principal. Transformation has brought about dramatic changes to the role of school principals in South Africa. This in turn has caused principals to revise their approach to diverse and transformation education. To this end chapter 3 studies certain challenges to the school principal in the modern education milieu.
In chapter 4 the research concept has been explained. The measuring instruments (questionnaires) is a self conducted questionnaire that consist of questions that must be answered by the respondents. The questionnaire concept for principals and teachers is of such a nature that it is corresponding with one another. In answering the questions the respondents have four possible answers to choose from. The administrative procedures that was followed are also indicated. Statistic techniques and procedures are explained and set out in detail. The chapter include the layout of the factor analysis, reliability of the factors and the determining of effect valuation between different groups of respondents.
The empirical investigation and its results will be explained in the next chapter.
In chapter 5 the results of the information from the questionnaires are given. There is a detailed statistical analysis of all information. The frequency and averages of questionnaires completed by principals and educators are determined and explained. Findings indicate only the highest and lowest fall-outs of the questionnaires of principals and educators respondents.
The factor analysis is an indication of the different factors from principal and educator questionnaires. A reliability test was done by means of the Cronbach
Alpha Coefficient. The averages and standard deviations of the items of principals and educators questionnaires were determined, as were the statistical differences between high and primary schools and the differences between age groups with reference to the six factors. In the next chapter conclusions are drawn from the results of the research. Recommendations were suggested with reference to the conclusions. Possible areas for future research are also be suggested.
The problem and objectives of the study were briefly discussed in chapter 6. The literary study and its results were discussed. Attention was also be focused on the results with reference to the research objectives. The empirical research and its results have also been discussed in detail. Guidelines for the improvement of the role of the principal are given in this chapter. Recommendations which have been made with reference to the findings of the study are included and finally recommendations for further research have been suggested.